Venetian blind parts



Dec'. 15, 1953 B. WALKER VENETIAN BLIND PARTS Filed Dec. 29, 1947 I n v Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FIGE ApnlicationDecember 29, 1947, SerialNo. 794,221

2 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to improvements in Venetian blinds, particularly to blinds in which t lifting cords or tapes or other means, of liftin the. blind do not go through. holes in the. slats to secure them against lateral displacement and where the lifting cords or tapes, etc.,, operate between the slats and, the side members of the ladder tape as described in my United States Patent No. 2,200,349, or in connection with any other Venetian blind construction in which greater lateral stability of the slats relative to the ladder tape is desired in order to keep the ends of the slats in end alignment in the blind or to keep the slats from-turning over in case the different sides or the slats are painted different colors or to keep the crown, of the slats; all in one direction in case of crowned metallic or composition slats.

This; invention pertains primarily to spring clips made of; wire orother suitable material adapted to be normally supported by the cross members of a Venetian blind' ladder tape or a flexible slat spacing mechanism. These spring clips engage one ormore notches at the edge of the slat to provide lateral stability of the slat relative to the slatsupporting cross members which is not obtained if the springmember engages the smooth edge of a slat. A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby Venetian blind slats can be readily removed for cleaning, repairing, replacement, or other uses merely by manually unclasping the spring clip and sliding the slat out from the, Venetian blind tapes, it. only being necessary to secure the slat adjacent to one tape though. any number of such clips from one to a number equalling the; number of slats may be used at other tapes or slat spacing elements to keep them in alignment with the main tape used for stabilizing all of the slats. A further object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly inexpensive and easily manufactured method of securing the slats, having an edge notch in a given position relatively central to a ladder tape, to cross members on which the slats rest, regardless of whether they are dual or staggered, are of thread, woven or metal construction.

Other advantages will be pointed out in the accompanying description and claims.

This invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly cut away, showing one form of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, partly cut away, of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modification of the invention in. which a multiplicity of edge notches is employed and in which sprin clip ends make engagement.

Figure 4 is, a view similar to Figure 2 showing another form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing another form of my invention.v

Figure 6. is a, plan view from underneath the slat, partly cut away, showing another form of the invention applied to a double slat support where the. clip engages a recess for the lifting cord.

In all figures, like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts. in the various drawings.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a Venetian blind slat l5 which may be flat, or curved, of metal, wood, plastic or composition, of any type common to Venetian, blind. art; a ladder tape with side elements. It and staggered cross members i I carried by or woven into the side tapes said tapes and cross members may be wovenmaterial, plastic or molded material, or any other material suitable for spacing Venetian blind slats. Cross members if may be cord,, woven,, sewn, molded; or otherwise. secured to. the. side members. Spring clip 30 is of spring wire of small dimension so as not to increase thepile of slats. when the blind is collapsed, and. of sufficient. strength to provide suitable retention of the slat, againstwind, manual dusting of the, slats. and other normal light contact. Spring clip 30 lies below the slat and has looped ends 3011. and 301), which engage cross member I l to secure. the.v slat; to the cross member and stillprovide lateral movement of the cross member; relative to. the slat. So the slat. can be properly cradled between the side members It. of the slat spacing tape. The ends 30a and 302) which extend above the edge of slat l5 are preferably curved inward to form a hooked engagement over the edge of the slat, and spring clip 30 is so formed that tension is provided between ends 30a and 30?) each toward the other when gripping the edge of the slat. Lateral stability of the slat in this instance is provided by edge notch l5a cut in the slat and into which fits at least one portion of spring clip 30. When it is desired to remove the slat for cleaning, replacing, repair or other reasons, the slat can be gripped by one hand and the spring clip released from its engagement with the edges of the slat by a slight finger pressure underneath the slat on the longitudinal portion [5c of the spring clip. The slat can then be easily withdrawn lengthwise from its support on the ladder spacing elements or 3 ladder tapes. The retention is only necessary at one tape and if spring retention means 30 is not too thick, the retention of all the slats can be at one ladder tape, normal folding of the tape between the slats in lifting operations provides some space for spring clip 30. Where such clips as so are to be employed on staggered cross rungs on a given single ladder tape it may be desirable to provide additional edge notches so similar clips whether placed on the inside or the outside of staggered ladder rungs can engage the appropriate notch in the edge of the slat to result in the end alignment of the slats.

In Figure 3 I have shown another modification of the invention wherein slat 40 has edge notches,

M, 42, 43, and 44 at one edge and may have additional small notches in the opposite edge adapted to be engaged by the ends of spring clip 48. The ends of spring clip 48 are preferably formed in a manner somewhat similar to the ends 30a and 30b of Figures 1 and 2. Recess 46 with beveled edges to reduce the tendency to catch when slat is being inserted or withdrawn provides space in which lifting cord 20 may op erate with reduced friction.

In Figure 4 I have shown another modification in the form of spring clip 50 in which two loops or zig-zags 50c and 50d are used to engage cross member H while the ends 50a and 50b of spring clip 58 hook over the edge of the slat, one hook engaging small edge notch 6| formed in the edge of slat 60.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modification of the invention quite similar to Figure 4 except that spring clip E is carried by cross member H and end "10b engages notch 80a in slat 38 which is adapted to receive lifting cord 20.

In Figure 6 I have shown still another modification of the invention in which slat 80 is provided with edge notch 80a adapted to receive lifting cord 20. Spring clip 95 has loops like 9517 adapted to engage the left and right cross rungs SI and 92 which in turn are suitably secured to the side members 90 of the slat spacing support or ladder tape. End 950 of spring clip 95 engages an unnotched edge of slat 80 while the opposite end 95d engages notch 80a which also provides space for lifting cord 20.

Throughout these views slats are shown which may be of any construction as described in Figure 1, and ladder tapes or slat spacing elements which also may be varied as described in Figure 1, or which is common in Venetian blind construction. In all constructions, when it is desirable to remove the slat for any reason, a slight pressure near one end of the spring clip away from the other edge of the engaged slat will readily disengage the clip from one edge of the slat so the slat can be readily removed. It is evident that the spring clips used in any Figures 1 through 5 are suitable as universal clips and are adapted for use in connection with right or left cross members or double cross members. Where one notch only is shown or notches are shown in only one edge as in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, it is obvious that another notch or notches may be employed at the opposite edge of the slat for better retention or better nesting of the ladder side members relative to the slat edge.

I do not wish in any way to limit myself to the exact details or mode of operation set forth in this specification and drawings, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made in the way of details without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention which is set forth in r the following claims.-

I claim as my invention:

1. A Venetian blind slat having edge notches, a flexible slat spacing element having two cross members joining the side members of said slat spacing element, said slat resting on both of said cross members at one slat spacing station, a single spring clip carried jointly by both said cross members when said slat is removed, said clip adapted to yieldably engage said slat adjacent to the outer edges thereof, said clip having slat engaging ends, said slat engaging ends remaining substantially undistorted when moved to the slat engaging or slat disengaging position through the yieldable action of the main portion of said spring clip.

2. A Venetian blind slat having edge notches, a flexible slat spacing element having two cross members joining the side members of said slat spacing elements, said slat resting on both of said cross members at one slat spacing station, a spring clip carried jointly by both said cross members when said slat is removed, said clip adapted to yieldably engage said slat adjacent to the other edges thereof, one point of the engagement being adjacent to said notch, both ends of said spring clip being yieldably movable to positions closer or farther apart than the width of said slat without deforming the shape of said spring clip ends.

BROOKS WALKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,861,606 Mackin June '7, 1932 2,116,357 Laborda et a1 May 3, 1938 2,285,033 Judels et al. June 2, 1942 2,480,993 Adler Sept. 6, 1949 

